Col. William M. Stubbs handed over the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Center, Europe, Colors and the USAMMCE mission to his successor, Col. Thomas C. Slade, during a ceremony held at Husterhoeh Kaserne in Pirmasens, Germany June 27.

"Col. Stubbs was an outstanding commander, and with him in command, I never had to worry about USAMMCE," said Maj. Gen. James K. Gilman, commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.

Gilman stated that with Slade at the helm, USAMMCE is in equally capable hands. The general is very familiar with both commanders; he knows Stubbs from his time at USAMMCE, and Slade has worked under Gilman at the USAMRMC.

Over 200 guests and USAMMCE personnel said farewell to Stubbs as he was preparing to move on to become a full-time student at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.

The outgoing commander thanked his family, friends and co-workers, and vowed someday to come back to Germany. He said that he will miss his "hometown" of Weselberg, Germany, and all of his friends and neighbors there, as well as everyone at USAMMCE. At the end of his speech, Stubbs quoted the late president John F. Kennedy by saying, "Ich bin ein Weselberger" (I am a Weselberger).

Incoming commander Slade was welcomed with open arms. Although he had never been stationed in Germany, Slade said that he knows USAMMCE from a customer's perspective, and is very excited to be its new commander.

The Soldiers of the 8th Medical Logistics Company, the 212th Combat Support Hospital, the Color Guard from the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and the German Soldiers of the Paratrooper Battalion 263 joined the USAMMCE Soldiers on the parade field. Music was provided by the U.S. Army Europe band.